The meeting was designed to consolidate efforts from officials in the Ministry of Public Health, the Prime Minister’s Office, the Office for Protection and Suppression of Narcotics and BMA officials to tackle the drug situation. Mr. Rataphol focused all the officials on working in line with each other and establishing and definite course of action. He stressed that it was important officials gain hands on experience and truly understand the reality of the situation.

The meeting reported that there is an estimated 80,000 drug users in the capital with a majority being laborers. This year has seen 8,663 addicts signing into rehab clinics with a 20 percent relapse rate.